Lee Jae-sung scores first goal of campaign as Mainz draw with Frankfurt

Lee Jae-sung celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Bundesliga match between Mainz 05 and Eintracht Frankfurt in Mainz, Germany on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Lee Jae-sung scored his first goal of the 2023-24 Bundesliga season on Sunday, heading in a deflection in the 25th minute as Mainz 05 took on Eintracht Frankfurt.

Lee’s effort looked like it could be the decider for Mainz, with Frankfurt staying one behind until the dying moments of the second half. Omar Marmoush eventually came through with an equalizer in stoppage time, locking in a 1-1 draw and still allowing Mainz to walk away with their first point of the season.

The Bundesliga has just finished its second week, having started later than the Premier League, Ligue 1 and La Liga. Mainz lost their opening game 4-1 to Union Berlin, but were able to take the draw against Frankfurt in their first home fixture.

Lee is a veteran midfielder and regular starter with the middle-of-the-table Bundesliga club, signing a new contract over the summer that could see him remain in Mainz until 2026. He played 34 league games during the 2022-23 season and picked up seven goals and four assists — the most goal contributions during his Bundesliga career.

After starting his career in Germany with 2. Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel in 2018, Lee joined Mainz in 2021 and quickly settled into the squad. As an experienced midfielder, he often takes a set-up role for the club, similar to the role he has fallen into over 71 appearances with the Korean national team.

Lee is one of three Korean players currently active in the Bundesliga, alongside Jeong Woo-yeong at VfB Stuttgart and Kim Min-jae at Bayern Munich.

Both Jeong and Kim were active over the weekend. Jeong started for Stuttgart in what turned out to be a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of RB Leipzig, while Kim started for Bayern in a 3-1 win over Augsburg.

Of the three teams, Kim’s Bayern are in the best position in second place with two straight wins, trailing behind Union Berlin on a single goal scored. Stuttgart follow in ninth place, with Mainz trailing in 13th.

All three clubs will be back in action next Saturday as Mainz face Werder, Stuttgart take on Freiburg and Bayern play Monchengladbach. The first Bundesliga Korean derby of the season follows a few weeks later, with Mainz hosting Stuttgart on Sept. 16.

Kim — who has never had the chance to face a countryman since moving to Europe, having been the only Korean active in the Turkish Super Lig when he was with Fenerbahce and Serie A when he was with Napoli — will get his first chance with Bayern take on Mainz on Oct. 21.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]